Youth Sports Coaches Bios

John Bradley

Head Soccer Instructor
In addition to serving as the Head Soccer Instructor at our Y and Director of Blue Wave Kickers, John also has served as the Coaching Director for the Darien Soccer Association and Head Coach for the girls varsity soccer teams at Darien High School and Brien McMahon High School. He was awarded the FCIAC Girls Soccer Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2008 and played for the varisty soccer team at Ithaca College, Leyton Orient in England, and Essex County School in England.

Mike Evans

Basketball Coach/Instructor
Mike Evans is the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, CT. In 2011, Mike earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University, where he was also a Manager for the Harvard Men’s Basketball Team (Ivy League Champions). Mike played basketball at Hamilton College from 2001 to 2005, setting current shooting records for most three-pointers in a game (9) and highest career three-point percentage (43%), before going on to play semi-professional basketball in Europe. Originally from Weston, CT, Mike scored 1,000 career points in just two seasons and was an All-State selection in 2001.

Donald Grunewald

Fencing Instructor
Donald Grunewald began fencing at St. Luke’s High School in New Canaan. At Haverford College, he was captain and four-year starter. He was honored with the College Rookie of the Year award, the Team Player award, and named to COSIDA Academic All-American National 3rd team. He competed at Oxford University in England, gaining experience in all three weapons and winning Oxford’s D’Amodio cup. He returned to Haverford in 2007 as assistant coach. He has been coaching at Greenwich High School since 2007, taking the team to three Team State Championships.

Gabe Kavookjian

Sports Department

Gabe graduated from New Canaan High School in 2011 and played football for the Rams as a Running Back and Defensive Back. Gabe has been working in the Sports Department since 2010. Gabe helps with Bouncing Bears classes, Youth Sports classes, score keeping for our Y Ball Leagues, and occasionally volunteers with YSN. Gabe volunteers at the New Canaan Nature Center and recently won the Volunteer of the Year Award for Best Adult Volunteer. Gabe aspires to be a professional actor and film maker in Hollywood.

Jack Lee

Volleyball Instructor
Jack has been a member of the New Canaan YMCA for over 20 years. He has actively managed and played volleyball at the Y and has played and taught racquetball for 15 years. He enjoys meeting a strong cross-section of a lot of people, of all ages while working at our Y and enjoys getting to serve many of these people in areas/sports that are meaningful to him. He is married with two kids and in his spare time, he is active in building relationships with youth via Young Life and Grace Community Church, New Canaan.

Anthony Smetak

Kempo Karate
Sensei Anthony Smetak is the owner, manager and chief instructor of Kempo Academy, New Canaan. Earning an MBA in Finance and working in the financial sector for over a decade, he now studies under the guidance of Master Craigue and Sensei DeBarger. Sensei Smetak has graduated from the Instructors College for Teaching of the Martial Arts (ICMA); additionally, he has served as the chief instructor at the Ridgefield satellite location as well as an assistant instructor at the Westport studio. His martial arts backround includes experience with Okinawan Karate; moreover, he has completed a training regimen in Thailand with professional Muay Thai boxers. Sensei Smetak is nationally ranked at 1st Degree Black Belt in Chinese Kempo.

Marvin Tyler

Tennis Instructor
Marvin Tyler is CEO and Founder of Slammer Tennis World. He founded Slammer Tennis World in April 2003 to motivate and educate people through the game of tennis. Marvin is a certified teaching professional who earned his certification at the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR)/Dennis Van De Meer Tennis University in Hilton Head, SC. He is also currently the Director of Tennis for the City of Norwalk Recreation and Parks in Norwalk, CT. Marvin is a lifetime member of the American Tennis Association (ATA) and in 2007, he received the Men of Distinction award from the NAACP of Dutchess County.